Nahweenah Human Induced Regeneration Project

Nahweenah Human Induced Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located at Nahweenah Station, approximately 140km northwest of Bourke in New South Wales. It was registered in December 2022 and covers 17,624.60 ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent even-aged native forests by modifying land management practices to encourage assisted regeneration. Standard methodology requirements dictate that the land must have been cleared of vegetation and regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project having commenced. This specific project encourages regeneration from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers by managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as managing feral animals in a humane manner.

The Bourke region is heavily associated with broadacre pastoral grazing operations, particularly for sheep and cattle. The area is classified as having a semi-arid climate that experiences low, variable rainfall, and the local soils predominantly consist of red earths, sandy loams, and some clay plains along the river floodplains.

Interestingly, Nahweenah Station has historical ties to regional opal mining. Old shafts and open pits from historic opal prospecting can be found near Clarke's Bore on the property, and geological samples of opal sourced from Nahweenah are even preserved in the Australian Museum.